Page 24 - WBG June 2023

FEATURE THE FUTURE OF PRIVATE

INVESTIGATION IN AN

INTERCONNECTED WORLD

By, Dr. Sheetal Nair
(www.sheetalnair.com)

INTRODUCTION A few of the areas where there has been an increased activity are
listed below
The world has come a long way since the days of Sherlock Holmes
and Hercule Poirot, two of the most famous fictional detectives in 1: Cross-Border Financial Fraud
history. Today, private investigators (PIs) and detectives face new In an increasingly interconnected world, financial fraud often
challenges and opportunities in an increasingly interconnected involves multiple jurisdictions, making it a complex challenge for
world. PIs. A case study from the banking sector illustrates the impact of
globalization on private investigation. A multinational corporation
In this article, we will explore the impact of globalization on the suspected internal fraud involving embezzlement and money
private investigation industry and discuss the future of international laundering across several countries.
detective work in the age of the internet, social media, and advanced
technology. We will also examine the role of the World Association Thanks to globalization, the investigators were able to leverage
of Detectives (WAD) in fostering cooperation among investigators international cooperation and access information from different
across the globe. financial institutions and regulatory bodies. The World Association
of Detectives (WAD) played a vital role in facilitating collaboration
between investigators from various countries. By sharing expertise,
resources, and intelligence, the investigators successfully unravelled
GLOBALIZATION AND ITS IMPACT ON the complex web of fraudulent activities, leading to the identification
and prosecution of the culprits.
PRIVATE INVESTIGATION

2: Online Intellectual Property Infringement
Globalization has had a profound impact on almost every aspect
of our lives, and the private investigation industry is no exception. The rise of e-commerce and digital platforms has facilitated
As people, information, and capital move more freely across the global trade of counterfeit goods and intellectual property
borders, the nature of criminal activity has also evolved. Economic infringement. In this case study, an international fashion brand
crimes, cybercrimes, and cross-border investigations have become suspected that its copyrighted designs were being illegally
increasingly common, requiring private investigators to adapt and replicated and sold on various online marketplaces across different
expand their skills to meet these challenges (Woo, 2019). countries.

In response to the need for international collaboration, To address this global issue, the private investigators employed
organizations like the World Association of Detectives (WAD) have advanced technology and cyber intelligence techniques. They
emerged to facilitate the exchange of information and resources monitored social media platforms, e-commerce websites, and
among investigators in different countries (WAD, n.d.). WAD has online forums to identify sellers and track the distribution networks.
played a crucial role in fostering a global network of professional The investigators collaborated with local law enforcement
investigators, enabling its members to work together on complex, agencies, leveraging the assistance of WAD and other international
multi-jurisdictional cases (WAD, n.d.). investigative networks.
22 W.A.D Beyond Global